In addition to drum fills, guitar solos and the cheers of thousands, jokes and laughter have been a recurring part of the Summerfest soundtrack. Bob Hope was one of Summerfest's first big headliners, with two shows at County Stadium in 1969, and in the decades since then Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and others have been booked to play a Summerfest stage or tent.

After 2007, the funny stuff appeared to be over at Summerfest. But Friday, comedy makes a comeback. Fest favorite Black is bringing along comedians John Bowman and Mike Wilmot as part of a special comedy day at the BMO Harris Pavilion. | July 4, 2013»Read Full Article(8)

Killing a show by canceling it is one thing. But killing major or recurring characters on a popular show is a dramatically complex development that can alter the dramatic structure of a show and its character development. | April 13, 2014»Read Full Article(8)

How many times have we been invited to "interact" with art, only to be offered an unremarkable touch-screen experience or a comment card, some drab marketing ploy designed to make us feel like we are a part of things. Great art always engages, often making the term "interactive" unnecessary.

Still, in the case of choreographer Morgan Thorson, it seems apt. For her new work, "Journeyman," she'll find a stranger at a party, and through a conversation craft a solo dance missive. Thorson will perform her piece for her new acquaintance and collaborator privately, then publicly as part of a weeklong performance festival curated by Alverno Presents called "Solo Flight."| April 13, 2014»Read Full Article

Our neighbors to the north have a fine comedy history. The Kids in the Hall. SCTV. Trailer Park Boys. Jim Carrey. (OK, that last one is debatable.)

Then there's Red Green, who deserves a place on that list of Canadian comic gems. The colorful parody of home-improvement shows ran for 300 episodes, from 1991 until 2006, not just on CBC Television in Canada, but stateside on PBS. | April 13, 2014»Read Full Article(3)